ANC Youth League distances itself from antihunting protest march

Chris Mashego, co-ordinator of the ANC Youth League in Bohlabelo District, said the organisation has distanced itself from the anti-hunting march on the Timbavati in May this year. Youth League member Thulani Moripe organised the protest action, which had about 80 people toyi-toyi at the Chimanimani gate of the Timbavati.

The group arrived two hours later than planned. They had first gone to a lodge on the Orpen Road before realising they realised they were at the wrong address. In a sworn affidavit relating to the matter, Johannes Chomse stated that Moripe had been paid R28 000 by Zuma Zuma lodge owner Hennie de Beer's business venture, Danresa Boerdery, to organise the protest march.

Chomse, while still in Zuma Zuma's employ, delivered the cheque to Moripe in Acornhoek. "The matter is under investigation as the ANC Youth league never authorised this march," said Mashego. He said disciplinary action will be taken where and if appropriate, pending the outcome of the investigation.

In another develoment, Thulani Moripe denied that he, at any stage, accused Tom Hancock, chairman of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve of offering the ANC Youth League a bribe of R100 000 not to invade the Timbavati.

He also said he had never told any reporter that he intended to lay any charge against Hancock. "Without any admission of any wrongdoing, I apologise to Mr Hancock should there be any false information about him which was alleged to have been given by me, which is denied," said Moripe in a letter to the Timbavati